Chapter-1

INTRODUCTION

TO

ENGINEERING MECHANICS

The state of rest and state of motion of the bodies under the action of different forces has
engaged the attention of philosophers, mathematicians and scientists for many years. The branch
of physical science that deals with the state of rest or the state of motion is termed as Mechanics.
Starting from the analysis of rigid bodies under gravitational force and simple applied forces,
the mechanics has grown to the analysis of robotics, aircrafts, spacecrafts.
Sir Issac Newton (16421727), the principal architect of mechanics consolidated the
philosophy and experimental findings developed around the state of rest and state of motion of
the bodies and put forth them in the form of three laws of motion and he presented law of
gravitation. The mechanics based on these laws is called Classical Mechanics or Newtonian
Mechanics.
Schrdinger (18871961) and Broglie (18921965) showed that Newtonian mechanics fail
to explain the behaviour of particles when atomic distances are concerned. They put forth the
theory of Quantum Mechanics.
Albert Einstein (18781955) proved that Newtonian mechanics fail to explain the behaviour
of high speed (speed of light) bodies. He put forth the theory of Relativistic Mechanics.
However, engineers are keen to use laws of mechanics to actual field problems. Application
of laws of mechanics to field problems is termed as Engineering Mechanics. For all problems
between atomic distances to high speed distances, Newtonian mechanics has stood the test of
time for many engineering problems and hence that is the mechanics used by engineers.
Newtonian mechanics is commonly known as Classical Mechanics also. In this book classical
mechanics is used to solve many field problems.

1.1.

INTRODUCTION TO STATICS

Depending upon the body to which the mechanics is applied, the engineering mechanics is
classified as:
(a) Mechanics of Solids and
(b) Mechanics of Fluids.
The solid mechanics is further classified as mechanics of rigid bodies and mechanics of
deformable bodies. The body which will not deform or the body in which deformation can be
neglected in the analysis, is called as Rigid Body. The mechanics dealing with rigid bodies at
rest is termed as Statics and that dealing with rigid bodies in motion is termed as Dynamics.
If the internal stresses developed in a body are to be studied, the deformation of the body
should be considered. This field of mechanics is termed as Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
/Strength of Materials/Solid Mechanics.
1

1.2.

Engineering Mechanics

CONCEPT OF PARTICLE AND RIGID BODY

A particle may be defined as an object which has only mass and no size. Such a body cannot
exist theoretically. However in dealing with problems involving distances considerably larger
compared to the size of the body, the body may be treated as particle, without sacrificing accuracy.
Examples of such situations are
A bomber aeroplane is a particle for a gunner operating from the ground.
A ship in mid sea is a particle in the study of its relative motion from a control
tower.
In the study of movement of the earth in celestial sphere, earth is a particle.
A body is said to be rigid, if the relative portion of any two particles in it do not change
under the action of the forces. Figure 1.1 (a) points A and B are the original position in a
body. After application of a system of forces F1, F2 and F3, the body takes the position as
shown in Figure 1.1 (b). A and B are the new positions of A and B. If the body is to be
treated as rigid, the relative positions of AB should be same as AB. Thus
AB = AB
Many engineering problems may be solved satisfactorily by assuming bodies rigid.
F1
B
B
A

F2

A
F3

(a)

(b)
Fig. 1.1

1.3.

FORCE

Newtons first law is that everybody continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a
straight line unless it is compelled by an external agency acting on it. This leads to the definition
of force as the external agency which changes or tends to change the state of rest or uniform
linear motion of the body.
Newtons second law is that the rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional
to the impressed force and it takes place in the direction of the force acting on it. Thus according
to this law,
Force Rate of change of momentum.
But momentum = mass velocity
Since mass do not change,
Force mass rate of change of velocity
mass acceleration
i.e.,
F ma
= kma

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

In SI system, unit of force is defined as that force which causes 1 kg mass to move with an
acceleration of 1 m/sec2 and is termed as 1 Newton. Hence the constant of proportionality becomes
unity. Thus
F = m a
...(1.1)
if
F is in Newtons
m is in kg
and a is in m/sec2.
In MKS, the unit of force is defined as that force which makes a mass of 1 kg to move
with gravitational acceleration g m/sec2. This unit of force is called kilogram-weight (kg-wt).
Gravitational acceleration g is 9.81 m/sec2 near the earth surface. In all the problems
encountered in engineering mechanics the variation in gravitational acceleration is negligible
and hence may be taken as 9.81 m/sec2. Hence the constant of proportionality in Eqn. 1.1
is 9.81, which means
1 kg-wt = 9.81 Newton
...(1.2)
It may be noted that in public usage kg-wt force is called as kg only.
Characteristics of a Force
It may be noted that a force is completely defined only when the following four
characteristics are specified:
Magnitude
Point of application
Line of action, and
Direction
In Fig. 1.2, AB is a ladder kept against a wall. At point C, a person weighing 600 N is
standing. The force applied by the person on the ladder has the following characters:

600 N

C
2m

A
Fig. 1.2

magnitude = 600 N
the point of application is at C which is at a distance 2 m from A along the ladder.
the line of action is vertical and
the direction is downward.

Engineering Mechanics

Note that the magnitude of the force is written near the arrow. The line of the arrow
shows the line of action and arrow head represents the point of application and the direction
of the force.

1.4.

TYPES OF FORCES

Usual types of forces acting on a body may be classified as concentrated load and distributed
load.
Concentrated Force: If a force is acting over a small area of the body, it is approximated
as a point load/concentrated load. It is represented by an arrow over the centroid of small area
over which it acts. In Fig. 1.2, weight of the person standing on the ladder is a concentrated
load/force.
Distributed Force: If the force is acting over a region whose dimension cannot be considered
negligible with the dimension of the body, it is a distributed load. To count its effect, we should
know its intensity at several points over the region and using mathematical integration its
effect is to be accounted.
The following are the three types of distributed loads:
1. Line distribution,
2. Area distribution and
3. Volume distribution.
1. Line Distribution: When a force is distributed along a line, in a continuous form, it is
called line distribution. In Fig. 1.3, the cable of the bridge supports the weight of grinder
through a set of closely placed verticle wires. The load on cable is a line distributed
force.

Fig. 1.3 Line distribution of force

The distributed line load may be uniform or may uniformly vary or may have general
nature. It depends upon the way the load is applied. Figure 1.4 (a) shows a uniformly
distributed load (udl) on a beam. Similarly Fig. 1.4 (b) shows uniformly varying load
and Fig. 1.4 (c) shows a general loading on beams.

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

w

kN/m

w2

kN/m

L
(a) Uniformly distributed load (UDL) on a beam

w1

kN/m

L
(b) Uniformly varying load (UVL) on a beam

(c) General loading on a beam [Types of line distribution of force]

Fig. 1.4 Types of Line Loads on a beam

2. Area Distribution: Force may be distributed over an area. For example, in case of a
slab the weight of flooring tiles is a force distributed over an area. This force is uniformly
distributed over slab. In case of wall of water tank the water pressure is uniformly
varying pressure on wall (Fig. 1.5). This force is expressed as kilo-newton per square
metre. (kN/m2) or newton per mm2 (N mm2) etc.

H kN/m

Fig. 1.5 Water pressure on a wall of tank [Area distribution of force]

3. Volume Distribution: A force which is distributed over the volume of the body is
termed as body force also. Self weight of the body, inertia force of a rotating body are
the examples of volume distribution of forces. They may be expressed as kN/m3 or
N/mm3 etc.

1.5.

Engineering Mechanics

SYSTEM OF FORCES

When several forces act simultaneously on a body, they constitute a system of forces. If all the
forces in a system do not lie in a single plane they constitute the system of forces in space. If all
the forces in a system lie in a single plane, it is called a coplanar force system. If the line of
action of all the forces in a system pass through a single point, it is called a concurrent force
system. In a system of parallel forces all the forces are parallel to each other. If the line of
action of all the forces lie along a single line then it is called a collinear force system. Various
system of forces, their characteristics and examples are given in Table l.1 and shown in
Fig. 1.6.
Table 1.1: System of Forces
Force System

Characteristics

Examples

Collinear forces

Line of action of all the

forces act along the same
line.

Forces on a rope in a tug of

war.

Coplanar parallel forces

All forces are parallel to

each other and lie in a
single plane.
All forces are parallel to
each other, lie in a single
plane and are acting in the
same direction.

System of forces acting on a

beam subjected to vertical
loads (including reactions).
Weight of a stationary train
on a rail when the track is
straight.

Coplanar concurrent forces

Line of action of all forces

pass through a single point
and forces lie in the same
plane.

Forces on a rod resting

against a wall.

Coplanar non-concurrent
forces

All forces do not meet at a

point, but lie in a single
plane.

Forces on a ladder resting

against a wall when a
person stands on a rung
which is not at its centre of
gravity.

Non-coplanar parallel forces

All the forces are parallel

to each other, but not in
same plane.

The weight of benches in a

class-room.

Non-coplanar concurrent
forces

All forces do not lie in the

same plane, but their lines
of action pass through a
single point.

A tripod carrying a camera.

Non-coplanar non-concurrent
forces

All forces do not lie in the

same plane and their lines
of action do not pass
through a single point.

Forces acting on a moving

bus.

Coplanar like parallel forces

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

Collinear

Coplanar parallel

Coplanar concurrent

Coplanar like parallel

Coplanar non-concurrent
y

x
z

z
Non-coplanar parallel

Non-coplanar concurrent
y

z
Non-coplanar non-concurrent
Fig. 1.6 System of Forces

1.6.

SCALAR AND VECTOR

Various quantities used in engineering mechanics may be grouped into scalars and vectors. A
quantity is said to be scalar if it is completely defined by its magnitude alone. Examples of
scalars are length, area, time and mass.
A quantity is said to be vector if it is completely defined only when its magnitude as well as
directions are specified. Hence, force is a vector. The other examples of vectors are velocity,
acceleration, momentum etc.

Engineering Mechanics

1.7.

TRANSMISSIBILITY OF A FORCE

According to law of transmissibility of force the state of rest or motion of the rigid body is unaltered
if a force acting on the body is replaced by another force of the same magnitude and direction but
acting anywhere on the body along the line of action of the replaced force.
Let F be the force acting on a rigid body at point
A as shown in Fig. 1.7. According to the law of
transmissibility of force, this force has the same effect
on the state of body as the force F applied at point B.
In using law of transmissibility of forces it should F
A
be carefully noted that it is applicable only if the body
F
B
can be treated as rigid. In this text, the engineering
mechanics is restricted to study of state of rigid bodies
and hence this law is frequently used. Same thing
cannot be done in the subject solid mechanics where
Fig. 1.7
the bodies are treated as deformable and internal
forces in the body are studied.
The law of transmissibility of forces can be proved using the law of superposition, which
can be stated as the action of a given system of forces on a rigid body is not changed by adding
or subtracting another system of forces in equilibrium.
Consider the rigid body shown in Fig. 1.8 (a). It is subjected to a force F at A. B is another
point on the line of action of the force. From the law of superposition it is obvious that if two
equal and opposite forces of magnitude F are applied at B along the line of action of given force
F, [Ref. Fig. 1.8 (b)] the effect of given force on the body is not altered. Force F at A and
opposite force F at B form a system of forces in equilibrium. If these two forces are subtracted
from the system, the resulting system is as shown in Fig. 1.8 (c). Looking at the system of
forces in Figs. 1.8 (a) and 1.8 (c), we can conclude the law of transmissibility of forces is proved.

A
F

F
(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 1.8

QUESTIONS
1. Explain the terms:
(a) Particle
(b) Rigid body
(c) Concentrated force
(d) Distributed force
2. State and explain Law of transmissibility of forces.
3. Explain the term Force and list its characteristics.

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

4. Explain the terms:
(a) Concurrent and non-concurrent force system.
(b) Planar and non-planar system of forces.
(c) Collinear force system.
5. Distinguish between a scalar and vector.

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Select the correct option in the following:
1.1. A particle has
(a) only mass
(b)
(c) both mass and size
(d)
1.2. If the distance between two bodies is doubled, the
(a) do not change
(b)
(c) is halved

only size
neither mass nor size.
force of attraction between them
doubles

(d) is

1
th of the original value.
4

1.3. The unit of mass in SI system is

(a) pound
(b) gramme
(c) kilogramme
(d) newton.
1.4. One newton is the force that makes
(a) 1 gm mass to move with 1 m/sec2 acceleration
(b) 1 kg mass to move with 1 m/sec2 acceleration
(c) 1 kg mass to move with g m/sec2 acceleration
(d) 1 gm mass to move with g m/sec2 acceleration.
1.5. Which one of the following is not the essential characteristic of a force?
(a) time of application
(b) line of action and direction
(c) point of application
(d) magnitude.
1.6. The weight of benches in a class-room constitutes
(a) non-coplanar parallel forces
(b) coplanar parallel forces
(c) coplanar concurrent forces
(d) non-coplanar concurrent forces.
1.7. The force which do not meet at one point and their line of action do not lie on the same
plane is known as
(a) coplanar non-concurrent
(b) coplanar concurrent
(c) non-coplanar non-concurrent
(d) non-coplanar concurrent.
1.8. The forces which meet at one point and their lines of action also lie on the same plane
are known as
(a) coplanar concurrent
(b) coplanar non-concurrent
(c) non-coplanar non-concurrent
(d) none of the above.